Rotary steel plate printing machine



Nov. 21, 1933. F. c. MARQUARDT 1,936,067

ROTARY STEEL PLATE PRINTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 10, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIINUllL l :40 I E 51 Q ZI N 2 2i} NVENT I r E i 5W2 W J-VUL ATTORNEY,

Nov. 21, 1933. F. c. MARQUARDT ROTARY'STEEL PLATE PRINTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 10, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bgzw (y A ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 21, 1933 'sr cs ROTARY STEEL PLATE PRENTING MACHINE Frank C. Marquardt, Brooklyn, NQ'Y assignor to American Bank Note Company, New York, 'N. Y, a corporation of New York Application October 10, 1932. Serial no. 637,188

9 Claims.

The invention rel-ates to a rotary steel plate printing machine, and more particularly to the mechanism by which power is transmitted from the plate cylinder gear to impression cylinder or B-roll.

.l'n rotary steel plate printing machines, it is necessary in order to secure proper register upon all sheets printed during a run of the machine, to so actuate the impression cylinder or D-roll that each rotation thereof will he initiated with the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder or DeIiQH in exactly the same relative position. In this "manner, accumulated error during a days run of the machine is prevented, since there is anautornaticreadjustment of parts following the making of each impression.

"It 'jlS also necessary, in a printing machine of this type, that theimpression cylinder or D-roll be permitted limited movement independently of '20 the gearing normally operative to drive same,

said :cylinder :heing frictionallly driven from the plate cylinder ,so as .to have the same angular speedasthe plate at all :timesduring the making of an impression, notwithstanding variation in the heights of different portions of the plate due :to undulations 11.1.1 the surface thereof produced during thehending of the plate. In fact,the impressioncylinder or 'D-roll, during the making of he impression, is constantly rotated as a result '30 of this frictional engagement, the speed of the cylinder, attimes bein momentarily :higherthan that :of its gear, at other times being momentar- 'ilyllower than that of its-gear, while still at other times its speedwill hezthat-of its gear. Hence, during ithe mal'ing of an impression, while power will doe continuously applied to the impression cylinder or -D-roll gear, such power will impart ive movement to the cylinder except through :springs 'as hereinafter noted.

10 "With the aloove-conditionsin ,mind, the machine of itheinvention isprovided-withan uninterrupted gear wheel carried by and rotatable with plate cylindergear, power being transmitted from said uninterrupted gear to the in pression cy"nder-,or D-roll through two gear segnrents,;.one'of-whichisppositlrely connected with the impressioncylinder or .D-roll, and the other .cf which, while positively driven by uninterrupted gear, is idly mounted in relation to the impression cylinder 1 or D-ro1l, but is connected therewith through-a spring rigging soconstructed and arranged'asto permit limited-free movement'oi the impression cylinder. or D-roll during engagement with'aplate uponthe plate cylder while at the same time developing a tenthe impression cylinder or D-rol in relation to a plate upon the plate cylinder during the making or" each impression and prior to the making of the succeeding impression.

The of the spring rigging above referred 5 to, during the oi an impression, .will be under tension, which tension will be increased or lessened by variation in the speed of the impresion cylinder or i'J-roll due to varying heights of different portions of a plate. If the speed of 7,9 the cylinder or D-rcll he momentarily increased, the tension of the springs will be momentarily decreased, while if the conditions of the steel plate are such as-to momentarily reduce the friction between the plate and the impression cylinde r or ii -roll, resulting in a lowering of the speed of latter, the spring tension will-be momentarilyincreased. The effect of this change of tension in the springs is to check any tendency of th impression cylinder or D-roll to develop .a PS0 speed other than that determined by the condition of the printing plate and the frictional engagement between said plate and the lanket upon the impress-Mon cylinder or D roll.

The impression cylinder or D-roll receives rotation during each cycle, which may be divided into four distinct stages: a positive movementduring the enmeshment of the uninterrupted gear carried by the plate cylinder gear with the rack segment connected directly with the impression cyl-,. inder or -D-roll; movement as a result of tensioning of the springs of the spring rigging immediately following the passing of the rack segment connected directly with the impression cylinder or D-roll from enmeshmentwith its actuating gear, .95 continuing until the blanket upon the impression cylinder or D-roll engages a plate upon'the plate cylinder; movement as a result of the frictional engagement between said blanket and said plate, and finally, movement by spring tension followme ing the disengagement of the blanket from a. plate until the re-enmeshroent of the first mentioned rack segment with its gear.

During the three stages following the passing of the rack segment from its actuating gear, the spring tension developed will be governed bythe enmeshnient of a segmental rack, idly mounted in relation to the impression cylinder or .D-roll, with the same gear which co-operates with or actuates the segmental rack for imparting-posi- 11o tive rotary movement for a short interval to said cylinder or D-roll. While, during the making of the impression, there may be rapid and frequent variations in the angular speed of the impression cylinder or D-roll, there will be continuous unidirectional rotary movement of said cylinder or D-roll at all times while the machine is in oper ation.

The construction and arrangement of the two segmental gears or racks, one operative positively and directly upon the impression cylinder or D- roll and the other operative thereon through a spring rigging, is such as to limit the tension developed in the springs, which is particularly desirable for ensuring a positive rotation of the impression cylinder or D-roll following its disengagement from a plate, the gear segment, directly and positively connected with the impression cylinder or D-roll, co-operating with the other gear segment ensuring this action.

While, during the making of an impression, the impression cylinder or D-roll is rotated as a result of frictional engagement with the plate, it is nevertheless being acted upon at all times by the tension of the springs of the spring rigging to ensure the desired variation in the cylinder speed with changes in the height of different portions of the plate.

The mechanism for rotating the impression cylinder or D-roll is so constructed, in the machine of the invention, as to minimize wear upon the enmeshed gearing, to act with equal reliability irrespective of whether one or a plurality of plates are used upon theplate cylinder, and to automatically restore the various parts of the power transmitting mechanism to their normal position, following the making of each impression, with a speed and reliability ensuring a smooth continued working of the machine.

The invention consists primarily in a rotary steel plate printing machine embodying therein a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder or D- roll, a continuous gear carried by, and rotatable with, said plate cylinder, two segmental gears adapted to mesh with said continuous gear, one of which is connected directly with, and the other of which is idly mounted in relation to, said impression cylinder or D-roll, and a spring rigging connecting said idly mounted segmental gear with said impression cylinder or D-roll, whereby said impression cylinder or D-roll may have varying angular movement relative to said continuous gear; and in such. other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side View of the printing couple of a rotary steel plate printing machine embodying the invention, with a portion of the plate cylinder gear broken away;

Fig. ,2 is a side elevation from the left of Fig. 1, showing fragmentary portions of the plate cylin- 'der and of the impression cylinder or D-roll;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a fragmentary portion of the plate cylinder is shown at 10 and the main actuating gear therefor at 11, said gear 11 being connected with the cylinder 10 in any desired manner to ensure the continuous application of power to said cylinder. In the accompanying drawings the gear is shown as being keyed to the arbor 12 of the plate cylinder. So far as the present invention is concerned, however, the manner of transmitting power from the gear 11 to the cylinder 10 is immaterial.

A fragmentary portion of the impression cylinder or D-roll is shown at 13. This impression cylinder or D-roll is of the usual construction. When the plate cylinder 10 is constructed so as to receive two plates, it is customary to have the impression cylinder or D-roll one-half the diameter of the plate cylinder, said impression cylinder or D-roll receiving one rotation for each plate upon the plate cylinder. If three plates are used upon the plate cylinder, the diameter of the impression cylinder or D-roll will be one-third that of the plate cylinder, and said impression cylinder or D-roll will receive three rotations during each full rotation of the plate cylinder.

In machines of the type to which the invention relates, when a plurality of plates are mounted upon said cylinder they are spaced in relation to each other to afford an interval during whichElOG a proper feeding of the polishing and wiping webs may be effected. It is also customary to interrupt the surface of the impression cylinder or D-roll, to afford space for the mechanisms used in securing and tightening the blanket to and.

upon said cylinder, the gap thus formed coinciding with the space between succeeding plates upon the plate cylinder during the operation of the machine.

The present invention relates more particularly to the mechanism by which power is transmitted. from the gear 11 to the impression cylinder or D-roll 13 in a manner to permit the frictional drive of the impression cylinder or D-roll 13 by plates upon the plate cylinder 10 during-the making of an impression, and the establishment of a definite relation of the impression cylinder or D-roll to the plate cylinder immediately following the making of one impression and prior to the making of the succeeding impression.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, this power transmitting mechanism comprises a gear 14 carried by and rotatable with the gear 11. In practice, this gear 14. has teeth differing in form and number from those upon the gear 11, and is formed of bronze or other hard anti-friction metal to minimize wear upon said gear. The gear 14 is adapted to mesh with two gear or rack segments 15 and 16, one

of which, 15, is rigidly connected with the arbor 17 of the impression cylinder or D-roll 13 and is of a length approximating the length in arc of the gap formed in the impression cylinder or D-roll 13. The other segmental gear or rack 16 is idly mounted upon the impression cylinder or D-roll arbor 1'7 and is of a length in arc approximating that of the impression cylinder or D-roll between the opposite edges of the gap therein. two segmental gears or racks l5 and 16 have a combined circumference sufficiently less than that of the impression cylinder or D-roll, to permit limited movement of the segmental gear or rack 16 in relation to the segmental gear or rack 15 as indicated at 18 in Fig. 1. This construction,'as will more fully appear hereinafter, is for 'inlrelation ito f the main -gear 11 and-fine ltensioning JOf the isprings :o'f :a-fspring .rigg'ing iby which the gear or rack segment 11-6 isrconnected with saidimpression-cylinder :or D-roll so as to impart m'ovement ithereto under certain conditions "which will the explained hereinafter.

Carried by-and rotatable with the arbor 17 :of the impression icylinder :or D+rol1 is :a :collar 19 having four spring-seat studs 120,21, 22 'an'd223 projected toward, but spaced slightly from the gear or raok segment 16. 'said gear orzrackfisegment 16 is "also provided-wlth four spring seat --s'tuds 24;, 25, 26 and 2'7 proiectingftowardgbut spaced from the collar 19; These studs are spaced 90 apart upon the gear or rack segment 16 and upon the c'ollar 19 respectively, those iupon said collar being staggered in relation to thoseupon-said gear or: racksegment. -Ea'c'h pair -o'f--'studs 20 and1'24; 21 and 2'5 Q2 and 26,-and 23 "and 27 has:seated between them a spring i'28, 29, 30-or 31. One 'of 'thestuds of eaeh pairgsuchas 20, 21, 22- -and '23 is provided with-a spring-seat iitting such as '32, adjustable in' relation to its stud 'by rneans of 1a screw threaded member "33 'adjustably m'ounted in said-stu'd and having a spring seat screw threaded f thereon.

,While I :prefer "to use four springs 'as 'shown "anddescribedfit is,"obviousthat the number of ssuchsprings may 'he varied without any substantial change in the mode of -operationof the machine.

The'springs 28 to 31 are normally under tensi'on, the action of "the springs being limited "by the engagementof one ender" the gear aorrack segment lfi-with-"the end of the 'gea'r or racksegment l5, these segments 'being alined with each other.

In the accompanying -'drawings, the gear or rack segment 15 is carried by an arm 34'upon the :plate 35 Lrigidly secured to 1 the end of the arbor 17, the gear: or rack segment 15' being orrset with relation I to i the arm 34,-as shown more particularly in liFig. 2, to bring it into A alinement :with the-gear or rack segment 'lfi.

While the gear 14 15a continuous gear, :and

adjustment of theimpression cylinder or D-"ro1l in relation to the plate cylinder under-"certain conditions well known to -those 'familiar with the type of -machine to which the invention relates.

ifffi'he 'manner of mounting the-gear 14 upon the gear ll will now be-described.

One side I of the gear 11 is 'rabbete'd to "form: a

seatfor the gear '14. Secured t0 the-'gear314 'loy =means of bolts bB is-"a plate or plates 37. 'The plate or plates 37 'hasatherein aaslotted opening,

-=as =38, through-which bolts -39, connected with thEsIimLOf-thG gear' I1,-pass and project "to anextent 5 to receive lock nuts '40. Carried by the rim of the gear ll is a fitting 2241 having spaeed arms 42 and 43 parallel tirithhn'cl adjacent"a' plate fid' -A screw threaded stud 44,- carried by -'one of the plates 36, is positionedbetween; but spaced from, the arms 42and 43. Mounted in the screw threaded stud *l l isian adjusting screw- 45, the ends or which respectively engage the arm's 42 land 43.

'The 1 operation of the herein described :mechanisms is substantially as follows 2'- "The position of parts, as shown in Fig. 51, is thatprevailing immediately "following the makling-"of an impression, the gear-or rack segments .151and 1'6 bothiloeing :enmeshe'd'with thegear 14, :one en'd-of the gear vor: rack segment 16 being engagediwith an-end "of the gearor rack segment 15,:aseshown, at therrightaof said segment or rack 15, anditheopposite-Lends .of said asegments being spaced apart to form the ,gap 18 at the left oi said segment 'o'rzrack 15.

With .the .parts in this position, the recessed phrtioniof the "impression cylinder or D-roll is presented downwardly, and with the rotation of ith'eiplate cylinder 10 and the gears 11 and 14, :rotarymovement is imparted to the impression cylinder or D-roll solely :through the gear ortrack :segment 15. cylinder .or iD -roll is a :positive drive from the plate. cylinder :gearrand-Will continue so long'as the "gear (01 :rack segment 15 is enmeshed with the gear I14.

aWith'ihe .parts in this position, the varioussprings .-28 to"31 'are attheir normal tension. As theigearmrrack segment 'l'fipasses from enmesh- "ment with theigear 14, the end of the segment .d6,- tothe;left, 'Fig. 1,meshes with the gear 14,

Such :movement of the impression 1 and aside:from=a-continued rotation of the 'im- J pressionicylinder or D-roll 13, as a'result of the momentum of its mass, substantially no power will be operative upon the impression cylinder or D-'roll,:.since as the normal tension of the springs 28 :t'or311is7 insufiicient ztoi'pick :up the :load of said acylinder' the gear .or'rac'k segment 16 receives a -shortirotary:movementupon the arbor 17 until :theitensionzof'thesprings 28 to 31 has been increased rtozan extent to assume the load of the limpressi'omcylinder pr iD-roll'in'a manner to continue its rotarymovementauntil overtensioning of saidspringsmay cause engagement of one end or "the gear lor track segment '16 withan end of thelgearorfirackrsegment 15 causing apositive cylindermovement .for a sufficient interval to allow such expansion or reaction .of the springs 28'1t0 31'IaS will re'sult in an approximate centering of tthe 'segment 15 in thespace between the "ends of these'gment .16.

f at JdifierenttimeS, 'upon the plate cylinder, but

there will always be aniinterval of engagement of the gear 114 and thesegmentlfi prior totheen- -:gagement of :thezforwardedge of anyplate with ith'eblanket upon the impression'cylinder or D-roll 5;;

1-3, :and this interval 'may 'vary with different sized splates unless other adjustments are providedfinithem'achine to ensure accuracy'in the timing of the engagement of the forward edge iofceahml'ateiwith the blanket upon theimpresqsionzcylinder-orjD roll irrespective of the size of the plate. The ipresent invention, however, is

not -lirnited-to :use with a machine'having such adjustments.

immediately-upon the engagement of the for- .1.

warduedgeof a plate with blanket upon the impression cylinder or D-roll, the friction develmomentarily increase the speed of the impression cylinder or-D-roll, as compared With the angular speed of the gear 14, the springs 28 to 3l,

If the earn i i Plates of difierent lengths "may be mounted,

net-only p'ermit such variation'oi speed, but will assist in ensuring the initiation and termination =o'f same.

If a -low:'=spot occurs in the plate or, if after acceleration of f the impression cylindenor D-roll, the condition of' the:plate will hesuch as toresult in a reduction of the speed of the impression cylinder or D-roll, the. springs 28 to 3i will be slightly compressed, thus not only permitting this reduction of speed, but resisting any tendency toward momentum of the cylinder causing it to exceed, even slightly, the speed required by the conditions of a plate.

The segment 16 during its enmeshment with the gear 14 has a substantially uniform speed so that retardation of the movement of the impression cylinder or D-roll in relation to that of the gear l i will cause an increase in the tension of the springs 28 to 31 with a sort of braking action on the cylinder movement.

The construction herein shown and described will also compensate for any irregularities in the action of the gear i l upon the segments 15 and 16 due to any possible slight irregularities in the teeth of these gears and segments arising during their construction or resulting from wear thereon.

When the gear 14 is enmeshed with the segment 16, the springs 28 to 31 are subjected to continuing tensioning stresses, so that at all times during the making of an impression, some power- 1 which is prohibitive.

represented by the tension of these springs, is applied to the impression cylinder or D-roll. At times, when the impression cylinder or D-roll is not engaged with the plate, or when the angular speed of the cylinder is reduced as compared with the angular speed of the gear 14, which latter conition results in an absence of, or lowering of the friction developed between the plate and the blanket of the impression cylinder or D-roll,the power applied to the cylinder through the springs, will be the result of the direct action of the gear l i upon the segment 16. When, however, the angular speed of the impression cylinder or D- roll is increased in relation to that of the gear 14, the power applied to the impression cylinder or D-roll will be limited to the expansive force of these springs.

The power applied to the impression cylinder or D-roll during the making of the impression is derived from two sources, that resulting from the frictional engagement between the blanket of .the impression cylinder or D-roll and the plates upon the positively driven plate cylinder, and that resulting from the tensioning of the springs 28 to 31 through the plate cylinder gear 14 and the segment 16. With an increase of the frictional power due to a high area in the plate, there will be a lowering of the spring power because of the free expansion of the springs due to the acceleration of the impression cylinder or D-roll. Inversely with the lowering of the frictional power due to a low area, there will be an increase of the tension of the springs. Consequently, there will be during the making of an impression a continuing equalization of the sum of the power derived from the two sources upon the impression cylinder or D-roll, so that at all times during the making of an impression, it will have applied thereto a substantially uniform force avoiding any fluctuation in its speed from any source oth-.

er than the variation in the height of the surface of the plate, excepting those which may result from variation in the speed of the plate cylinder itself.

The speed variations of the impression cylinder or D-roll may be extremely rapid and may cover only an interval of a small fraction of a second and the spring power herein described has been found, in actual practice, to ensure fluctuation or variation in the speed of the impression cylinder or D-roll with a rapidity commensurate with the short time intervals involved.

The particular construction of parts is such as to permit the development of sumcient spring power to assume the load of the impression cylinder or D-roll when it is not engaged with the plate. At the same time, its construction is such as to avoid any possible. interference with its free operation under all conditions. 7

The adjusting means for the gear 14 is used.

primarily for securing minute adjustment of the impression cylinder-or D-roll in relation to the plate cylinder during the assembling of the machine or to compensate for slight Wear upon the gears.

Steel plate printing machines are used for producing a class of work which requires absolutely perfect impr ssions in the finished product, and such impressions can result only when the angular speed of the plate cylinder and of the impression cylinder or D-roll are identical. Slight movement of the impression cylinder or D-roll in relation to a plate may result in ragged or broken lines or even smutting of the impression,

The cylinders of the printing couple are large heavy cylinders, and prior to my present invention, so far as I am aware, no

means have been devised by which any equalizing action of the two sources of power during the making of an impression has been accomplished.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire protected by Letters Patent, 1s:

1. A rotary steel plate printing machine embodying therein a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder or D-roll, a continuous gear carried by, and rotatable with, said plate cylinder, two segmental gears adapted to mesh with said continuous gear, one of which is connected directly with, and the other of which is idly mounted in relation to, said impression cylinder or D-roll, and a spring rigging connecting said idly mounted segmental gear with said impression cylinder or D- roll, whereby said impression cylinder or U-roll may have varying angular movement relative to said continuous gear.

2. A rotary steel plate printing machine embodying therein a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder or D-roll, a continuous gear carried by,

and rotatable with, said plate cylinder, two segmental gears adapted to mesh with said continuous gear, one ofwhich is connected directly with, and the other of which is idly mounted in relation to, said impression cylinder or D-roll, a collar carri d by and rotatable with said impression cylinder or D-roll, a plurality of pairs of spring seat studs, one of each pair-being carried by said idly mounted segmental gear and the other by said collar, and a spring mounted between the spring seats of each pair, whereby said impression cylinder or D-roll may have varying angular movement relative to said continuous gear.

3. A rotary steel plate printing machine embodying therein a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder or D-rcll, a continuous gear carried by, and rotatable with, said plate cylinder, two segmental gears adapted to mesh with said continuous gear, one of which is connected directly with, and the other or" which is idly mounted in relation to, said impression cylinderorD-roll, a col-V lar carried by and rotatable with said impression cylinder or 'D-roll, a plurality of pairs of spring seat studs, oneof each pair being carried by said idly mounted segmental gear and the other by said collar, and a spring mounted between the spring seats of each pair,each 01": said springs being normally under tension, whereby said impression cylinder or D-roll may have varying angular movement relative to said continuous gear.

4. A rotary steel plate printing machine embodying therein a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder or 'D-roll, a continuous gear carried by, and rotatable with, said plate cylinder, a long segmental gear idly mounted in relation to said impression cylinder or D-roll, a relatively shorter segmental gear connected directly with said impression cylinder or D-roll and having its teeth in alinement with the teeth of said idly mounted segmental gear, the relative dimensions of said segmental gears being such as to permit limited movement of said idly mounted segmental gear in relation to said other segmental gear, and a spring rigging connecting said idly mounted segmental gear with said impression cylinder cr D- 'rol1,- whereby power from said plate cylinder gear, while enmeshed with said idly mounted segmental gear, will develop a tension in said springs, said impression cylinder or D-roll may have varying angular movement relative to said plate cylinder gear, and the tension of said springs will vary with varying angular speed of said impres sion cylinder or D-roll.

, 5. A rotary steel plate printing machine embodying therein a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder or D-roll, a continuous gear carried by, and rotatable with, said plate cylinder, a long segmental gear idly mounted in relation to said impression cylinder or D-roll, a relatively shorter segmental gear connected directly with said impression cylinder or D-roll and having its teeth in alinement with the teeth of said idly mounted segmental gear, the relative dimensions of said segmental gears being such as to permit limited movement of said idly mounted segmental gear in relation to said other segmental gear, a collar carried by and rotatable with said impression cylinder or D-roll, a plurality of pairs of spring seat studs, one of each pair being carried by said idly mounted segmental gear, and the other by said collar, and a spring mounted between the spring seats of each pair, whereby power from said plate cylinder gear, while enmeshed with said idly mounted segmental gear, will develop a tension in said springs, said impression cylinder or D-roll may have varying angular movement relative to said plate cylinder gear, and the tension of said springs will Vary with Varying angular speed of saidimpression cylinder or D-roll.

6. A rotary steel plate printing machine embodying therein a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder or D-roll, a continuous gear carried by, and rotatable with, said plate cylinder, a long segmental gear idly mounted in relation to said impression cylinder or D-roll, a relatively shorter segmental gear connected directly with said impression cylinder or D-roll and having its teeth in alinement with the teeth of said idly mounted segmental gear, the relative dimensions of said segmental gears being such as to permit limited movement of said idly mounted segmental gear in relation to said other segmental gear, a collar carried by and rotatable with said impression cylinder or D-roll, a plurality of pairs of spring seat studs, one of each pair being carried by said idly mounted segmental gear, and the other by said collar, and a spring mounted between the spring seatsof each pair, each of said springs being normally under tension, whereby power from said plate cylinder gear, while enmeshed with said idly mounted segmental gear, will subject said springs to continuing tensioning stresses, said impression cylinder or D-roll may have varying angular movement relative to said plate cylinder gear, and the tension of said springs will vary with varying angular speed of said impression cylinder or D-roll.

7. A rotary steel plate printing machine embodying therein a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder or D-roll, a continuous gear carried by, and rotatable with, saidplate cylinder, two segmental gears aclapted to mesh with said continuous gear, one of which is connected directly with, and the other of which is idly mounted in relation to, said impression cylinder or D-roll, a spring rigging connecting said idly mounted segmental gear with said impression cylinder or D- roll, whereby said impression cylinder or D-roll may have varying angular movement relative to said continuous gear, and means whereby said continuous gear may be adjusted circumferentially of said plate cylinder to vary the relation of said impression cylinder or D-roll in relation to said plate cylinder.

8. A rotary steel plate printing machine embodying therein a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder or D-roll, a continuous gear carried by, and rotatable with, said plate cylinder, a long segmental gear idly mounted in relation to said impression cylinder or D-roll, a relatively shorter segmental gear connected directly with said impression cylinder or D-roll and having its teeth in alinement with the teeth of said idly mounted segmental gear, the relative dimensions of said segmental gears being such as to permit limited movement of said idly mounted segmental gear in relation to said other segmental gear, a spring rigging connecting said idly mounted segmental gear with said impression cylinder or D-roll,

whereby power from said plate cylinder gear, 120.

inder gear, and the tension of said springs will vary with Varying angular speed of said impression cylinder or D-roll, and means whereby said continuous gear may be adjusted circumferentially of said plate cylinder to vary the relation of said impression cylinder or D-roll in relation to said plate cylinder.

9. A rotary steel plate printing machine embodying therein a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder or D-roll, a continuous gear carried by, and rotatable with, said plate cylinder, a long segmental gear idly mounted in relation to said impression cylinder or D-roll, a relatively shorter segmental gear connected di ectly with said impression cylinder or D-roll and having its teeth in alinement with the teeth of said idly mounted segmental gear, the relative dimensions of said segmental gears being such as to permit limited movement of said idly mounted segmental gear in relation to said other segmental gear, a collar carried by and rotatable with said impression cyl- 145.

of each pair, each of said springs being normally ing angular speed of said impression cylinder of D-roll, and means whereby said continuous gear may be adjusted circumferentially of said plate cylinder to vary the relation of said impression cylinder or D-roll in relation to said 'plate cylinder.

FRANK C. MARQUARDT.

led 

